The Henshaw Family Queen Anne Desk-and-Bookcase, Boston, Massachusetts, Circa 1740
Auction Closed
January 20, 04:11 PM GMT
Estimate
5,000 - 8,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Walnut
Inscribed on paper and affixed to the interior door:
From various records, this desk is supposed to have been made as early as 1725, perhaps a generation earlier. It formerly belonged to Joshua Henshaw of revolutionary memory, who was born in Boston in 1703. Mr. Henshaw resided in Lancaster from 1773 to 1776, went to Dedham and died there Augt. 5th 1777; at his de-uan it passed into the hands of his son Joshua of Boston, who aftwards lived and died in Shreswsbury, Mass and at his druon (?), it passed into the hands of my sister Elizabeth Henshaw, who subsequently married Nathl. Dodge Esq. of North Brookfield and Mrs. Dodge gave it to me at her diuoses (?); it is supposed to be of English manufacture; and may it be retained in the family for a long time to come; thenby give this desk to my son / Isaac M Hensahaw Charles Henshaw/ Boston Sept. 16th 1862
Another paper label inscribed Charles Henshaw/ Boston affixed to the backboard.
Height 89 3/4 in. by Width 38 in. by Depth 21 3/4 in.
Feet replaced.
Joshua Henshaw (1703-1777), Boston;
To his son, Joshua Henshaw (1746-1823), Boston;
To his daughter, Elizabeth Henshaw Dodge (1776-1861), Boston;
To her brother, Charles Henshaw (1789-1864), Boston;
To his son, Isaac Means Henshaw (1842-1878), Boston;
thus by decent to the current owner.
Charles Henshaw, born April 10, 1876, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, was the president and treasurer of ‘Henshaw Motor Company’, an early retail automobile sales and service company. He was also a well-known motorcycle racer in the early 1900s, teaming-up with Carl Oscar Hedstrom, who became co-founder of the Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company. In 1900, Charles Henshaw and Oscar Hedstrom collaborated to build a 'pacer' (a motorized bicycle), which they named “Typhoon.”
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